Academy Council
Governance within a multi-academy trust
Begbrook Primary Academy is part of the Cabot Learning Federation, a multi-academy trust that is responsible for a number of academies across Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset. Governance for a multi-academy trust operates at two levels. At trust level, there is a Board of Directors. The directors are accountable to the Department for Education and external government agencies, including the Charity Commission, for the quality of the education the trust provides and the effective use of the associated academy funding. They are required to have systems in place through which they can assure themselves of quality, financial probity, safety and good practice. The Board is provided assurance on a number of these areas through various sub-committees, as shown in the diagram below. For further information about the Board, please click here. https://www.clf.uk/governance/meet-the-board/
At a local level, each academy has an Academy Council comprising of up to 13 Academy Councillors. Academy Councils are responsible for holding Principals and their leadership teams to account for the quality and effectiveness of the academic experience of the students under their care with the aim of securing effective school improvement. They do this through monitoring performance against an annual academy improvement plan, through monitoring risks and responses to risks, and by overseeing systems and processes for the safeguarding of children and the health, safety and wellbeing of academy staff.
If you want to contact the Chair (or any Academy Council members), please email the Clerk to the Academy Council linda.corbidge@clf.uk. Please make your email subject line with FOA Chair of Academy Council).
These are our Academy Councillors …
| Chair of Academy Council (tba) | |
| Parent Academy Councillor: Dr Shaun Mudd (ACTING CHAIR OF ACADEMY COUNCIL) | |
 | I am a parent of a child at Begbrook Primary Academy and am delighted to sit on the Academy Council. I am passionate about promoting effective and inclusive education for all learners, as well as supporting teachers in their practice and development. In my professional life, I am Head of Teaching Expertise Development at Bath Spa University. This team facilitates professional learning for staff who teach and support learning, supports curriculum design and enhancement, and informs education-related strategy and operation across the institution. Immediately before joining Bath Spa University, I led the mandatory teaching qualification for new lecturers at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol). |
| Sponsor Academy Councillor (and SEND and Health & Safety Link): Anne Harris | |
 | Anne trained as a children’s nurse at Great Ormond Street Hospital in the nineteen eighties and worked in London for a few years before moving to Bristol and becoming a social worker for children with cancer. Most of her professional career has centred around working with children and families affected by serious childhood illness. In 2006 she became Director of Care Services at Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity, retiring in 2024. Anne was awarded an MBE for services to seriously ill children and their families in the King’s Birthday Honours List, 2024. She lives in Bristol with her husband and three mad cats. |
| Sponsor Academy Councillor: Dr Pawel Capik | |
 | I am an academic with 20 years of experience in higher education in the UK and abroad. I want the best learning environment and growth opportunities for our children that Begbrook Academy can offer. I want our children to be safe, happy and challenged at school, living up to their full potential and getting ready for the next stages in their education. It is my pleasure to serve on the Council, where I bring parents’ perspective to discussions and ensure decisions reflect the school’s diversity. |
| Teacher Academy Councillor: Eliza Hansen | |
 | I am pleased to have recently joined the Academy Council at Begbrook Primary Academy. Working as a teacher has given me a strong appreciation of the difference that a nurturing and ambitious school environment can make in children’s lives. I hope to bring my experience in education to council discussions and to play a positive role in supporting the academy’s priorities. I am particularly interested in ensuring that every child is given the opportunity to develop confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning. I am excited to be part of this community and to help develop the school’s ongoing journey. |
| Sponsor Academy Councillor: Paul Bland | |
 | Paul brings more than 15 years of experience in establishing overseas tertiary education programmes, with leadership responsibilities up to Department Head. He has also worked in industry and currently serves in a professional engineering role within the Civil Service. All roles have touched upon governance in one form or another, having both held others to account and having been held to account himself up to Ministerial level. Paul has served for five years on his daughter’s Secondary School’s Parent Forum. He sees the Councillor role as a natural progression, to be able to continue to give something back to education. In particular, the challenges and opportunities faced by the school’s children and staff, and the CLF strategic position on Equity and Equality. |
| Sponsor Academy Councillor: Helen Faulkner | |
 | I am a Headteacher at a Primary school in another Multi-Academy Trust in central Bristol. I have experience across the primary phase including as a Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator, Early Years Lead DSL. I have taught in year groups across the primary phase in both Bristol and London. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to the Academy Council at Begbrook, to working alongside the team and to learning more about this wonderful school. |
| Support Staff Academy Councillor: TBA | |
| Parent Academy Councillor: (elected/appointment in process) | |
| Details to follow | |
Vacancies on the Academy Council – Chair of Academy Council, Support Staff Academy Councillor.
Please contact Linda, the Clerk to the Academy Council for further information – linda.corbidge@clf.uk.
